A typical Alpine
region, only 13% of its land is inhabitable. Conservation and land use laws
designate another 20% as nature reserves, protected land where development is by
special permit only, or areas closed to all development. Tirol shares borders
with Germany, Italy and Switzerland, as well as with the other Austrian
provinces of Vorarlberg.
Salzburg and Carinthia. The region called East Tirol is
geographically separated from the rest of the province.
It is accessible only by routes through Salzburg (the
Felbertauern highway and tunnel) or through the Puster
Valley, which lies in the Italian province of South
Tirol.
Tirol is a paradise for
hikers, mountain climbers and skiers: 710 of its innumerable mountain peaks are
over 3000 meters high. The highest peak in Tirol is the Wildspitze (3774 meters)
in the Oetz Valley Alps. Tirol also shares the Grossglockner (at 3797 meters,
the highest mountain in Austria) with another province: the peak of the
Grossglockner is located in Carinthia, but the mountain is also accessible from
East Tirol.
The River Inn enters
Austria from Switzerland at Hochfinstermuenz, flows from west to east across
Tirol, and leaves the province again at Kufstein, forming a natural border with
Bavaria from Kufstein to just past Erl. The river gave its name to the main
valley of Tirol, the Inn Valley. The Upper Inn Valley, to the west of Innsbruck,
is an area of steep cliffs, high mountains and narrow sided valleys. In
contrast, the landscape of the Lower Inn Valley to the east is less dramatic,
with broader valley floors and mountains on which grass often grows up to the
summit.
The provincial
capital of Tirol is Innsbruck, a city of some 120,000 inhabitants. The
Mari a-Theresien-Strasse, considered to be one of the world's most
beautiful streets, runs between Innsbruck's 800-year-old Altstadt (Old
Town) and an imperial arch of triumph built during the reign of Empress
Maria Theresia. Special attractions include the Golden Roof, the
Imperial Court church with its black statues, and the giant panorama
painting depicting the Tirolean freedom fighters under Andreas Hofer in
their battle against Napoleon's troops.
Innsbruck
hosted the Winter Olympic Games in both 1964 and 1976. The Olympic ice
rink, the bobsled run in nearby Igls, and the ski jump with its two
Olympic flames on Bergisel overlooking the city still attest to the
glory of the Games.With 76 cable cars, 229 chair lifts, 415 T-bars and
113 rope tows, Tirol is one of the world's foremost winter sports
capitals.
Skiers of
every level from beginner to expert can hone their skills at one of
176 ski schools, while youngsters are in good hands at one of 131
ski kindergartens. Nordic enthusiasts will delight in 4,500
kilometers (3000 miles) of scenic cross-country trails, while
sledging fans can experience the thrill of 159 tobogganing runs,
some of them lit at night. There are ice skating rinks in 153 towns
and villages, and 60 of Tirol's communities maintain over 1000
kilometers (600 miles) of cleared walking and hiking paths.
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